MN auditors review alternative education programs

Minnesota's legislative auditor weighs in Wednesday on a little-examined area of education policy - alternative education programs used by struggling students to finish high school.

The auditor is releasing his evaluation of test scores, attendance and graduation rates for alternative education programs in school districts across the state.

The Legislative Audit Commission will examine the findings in a Capitol hearing.

The goal of the report is to identify programs that have met the state's expectations and flag those that are falling behind.

Alternative education programs serve students who perform below grade level, have limited English proficiency or mental health or chemical dependency problems.

Officials say few alternative education programs have been evaluated since the state started using them in the late 1980s.

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